Transcript for 45 Years Ago the Apollo Crew Snapped the Earthrise Shot on Christmas Eve From Space

As this played out tonight it was not lost on us what americans were watching play out in space 45 years ago, looking at this image 45 years ago tonight. Reporter: Christmas eve 1968, the crew of apollo 8 capturing this unforgettable earth shot, the image seen around the world. There was something else that christmas eve, a billion listening as the astronauts in orbit took turns reading scripture, genesis to spell bound listeners waiting for christmas morning to come. In the beginning god created the heaven and the earth and the earth was without form and void. Reporter: Those astronauts would end with a message that is as dear tonight as it was 45 years ago. And from apollo 8 we close with good night, good luck, a merry christmas and god bless all of you, all of you on the got earth. Spectacular message all these years later. Those astronauts farther away than any humans had ever been.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

April 16, 1972: Apollo 16

After launch, NASA receives first pictures of Apollo 16 in space.

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